Every student in the auditorium turned their heads and looked directly at Zenyph. Their gazes filled with curiosity and excitement.
"As I mentioned before titles are worthless inside the academy. There will not be any special bonus for killing the prince nor will he receive extra rewards for surviving. The bounty will start at 100 points. Enough to put any class at the top. The bounty will go into effect starting tomorrow morning. Good luck to everyone. Please enjoy the rest of your evening. The dorms will open shortly and the cafeteria will serve dinner in a few hours."
Headmistress Arietta finished her speech and walked off stage without saying another word.
The audience broke into a commotion talking among themselves about the unexpected news. Everyone started whispering excitedly wondering whether the prince was weak or strong.
Lynette looked worried. She grabbed onto Zenyph's arm tightly refusing to let him go.
"Master...this is bad. With so many people after you it'll be difficult to protect you. I think we should leave the academy. We'll find a safe place somewhere far away. Let's leave tonight."
"Leave? Why should I leave? This is the perfect place for me to get stronger. Not to mention that the Headmistress herself is quite the interesting woman. I've never met such a beautiful person before. Plus this is the perfect opportunity for me to expand my network. Think about it Lynette. By staying here I'll be able to build connections with influential people from all across the empire and beyond. "
Lynette bit her bottom lip nervously. She didn't agree with Zenyph's decision but she also understood that the academy was a valuable resource.
"Then what should we do?"
"Let's go take a look at the dorms first. Maybe we'll find some useful information there. As for the bounty we can just ignore it. I'm sure most people won't even bother targeting me. I'm still a prince, killing me would make them an enemy of the empire. It would make my father look bad for letting his son get killed. Unless the person who wants to kill me is extremely powerful and confident in his abilities then it doesn't really matter. I'm not going to waste my time worrying about trivial things like this. As long as I'm careful I won't get into trouble."
"But master..."
"Enough Lynette. Let's go check out our living quarters. We can talk later after we unpack. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to discuss this issue later. Right now we need to focus on getting settled in first. We'll worry about everything else later. "
Lynette reluctantly agreed to his suggestion. She still felt uneasy about his decision but she also knew he was right. They needed to find out as much information about the academy as possible.
Zenyph smiled reassuringly at Lynette and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. He patted her several times and squeezed lightly.
"Don't worry too much okay? Trust me Lynette. Nothing bad will happen. Come on let's go see where we'll be staying."
"Yes master." Lynette nodded obediently. She followed behind Zenyph silently while keeping watch over her surroundings.
Zenyph walked ahead leading the way towards his dorms. Each student was handed a pocketbook that contained the necessary information regarding the dorms and the class they were in. Zenyph flipped through the pages of his book skimming through the contents. According to the instructions he found the location of his dorm building. It wasn't very far from the auditorium which was good. Walking back to his room would be easy. He memorized the directions to his new home and closed the booklet. He put the book inside his robes and continued moving forward.
"Lynette what class are you in?" asked Zenyph curiously.
"I'm in Class Alpha." Lynette replied quickly.
"So we're in the same class huh. That's quite fortunate
It would be easier for me to protect you if you stay close to me. However if you feel like being independent then don't hesitate to strike out on your own. I won't stop you. Just make sure you stay safe alright? "
Zenyph smirked mischievously as he teased Lynette playfully. He loved teasing her because she always reacted differently depending on how she felt. Sometimes she blushed and looked embarrassed while other times she got angry and yelled at him. Either way she never failed to amuse him.
"Zenyph... you do know I'm stronger than you right? I could easily kill you with a single attack. Don't underestimate me. I'm not some frail little girl who needs protection. I'm perfectly capable of defending myself. Besides I promised your mother to keep you safe. So please allow me to fulfill my duty as your maid. "
"Yes yes, you did try to kill me that time at the castle. Well just wait until I start practicing magic seriously. Then we'll see who's stronger. "
"Never mind that, what room are you in Zenyph? Are we neighbors? That would certainly make things easier. Especially when you decide to visit my bedroom at night. " Lynette giggled as she joked around with Zenyph.
Zenyph rolled his eyes and chuckled softly. He shook his head in amusement and kept walking.
"It says here the room houses five students from the same class. I'm in room 3. What about you? Where are you staying?"
"I'm in room 3. Which means we're roommates!" Lynette exclaimed cheerfully.
"Seriously? What a coincidence." Zenyph commented sarcastically as he glanced sideways at Lynette.
Lynette ignored him completely and skipped happily beside him humming loudly to herself.
Zenyph sighed inwardly as he watched Lynette skip alongside him. She always managed to find happiness wherever she went. It amazed him how she could remain so cheerful despite all the chaos surrounding them.
The two arrived at their destination. It was an enormous three story building made entirely out of marble stone. It looked majestic and grandiose.
A signboard hung above the main entrance announcing the name of the building.
"Alpha Graveyard. Nice name. Sounds like a cemetery." Zenyph murmured quietly as he read the inscription.
"Graveyards aren't scary you know. All they contain are graves and tombstones. They aren't haunted or anything like that." Lynette argued passionately.
"Well where I come from graveyard are believed to be bad luck. People avoid them. Some even consider them cursed places."
"That's stupid. Who came up with such a ridiculous notion? People shouldn't be afraid of death. It's part of life. Without death we wouldn't exist. Everything eventually dies. That's just how the world works. And besides when you die you become part of nature. You return to the earth where you'll be reborn again in a new body. "
Zenyph pondered Lynette's words for a moment before replying.
"Then why did you say we should leave the academy earlier?"
"Because death is different than being killed dummy. A natural death is peaceful. It's gradual process that happens naturally. When you're killed it's violent and painful. You suffer greatly before passing away. There's no dignity or grace to it. It's ugly and brutal." Lynette explained patiently.
"Fair enough." Zenyph shrugged his shoulders dismissing the topic completely. He didn't care about whether or not graveyards were good luck. He just wanted to enter the building and rest.
"Anyway let's go check out our rooms. I'm tired and hungry. I want to eat some food and sleep in a comfortable bed."
Lynette nodded and followed him closely behind.
They entered the dormitory and walked straight up to the front desk where a pretty young woman sat. She greeted them politely and motioned for them to follow her upstairs.
"Your names?" she inquired as she led them up the stairs.
"Zenyph Drakonhart and Lynette Shadowthorne." answered Zenyph curtly.
"Hmm... yes those are the correct names. Here we are. Room 3. This is your key. Make sure you lock the door when you leave. Otherwise someone might enter the room. Have a nice day."
The attendant disappeared into thin air.
Zenyph stared blankly after her. He had never seen such an ability before. Was she a ghost? Or maybe an apparition? Whatever it was it scared the hell out of him.
He quickly grabbed the keys off the table and headed towards their room that was on the second floor.
When they reached their destination he unlocked the door and pushed it open.
The inside of the room resembled a modern apartment in his former world. It was spacious and clean. There even seemed to be a magical glass that closely resemble a tv.
"Lynette what's that?" he asked pointing towards the mysterious object.
Lynette moved closer to inspect it. After examining it for several minutes she determined what it was.
"It appears to be some kind of viewing device. It's probably used to communicate with others who are far away."
"Like a phone? Or is it similar to a computer?"
"I don't understand any of that. Can you explain it to me? "
"No I can't. Sorry Lynette. How about we call it a TV instead? Does that sound better? "
Lynette shrugged indifferently and stepped aside allowing Zenyph to enter the room first.
He walked inside the apartment and began exploring the different rooms.
"We each have our own rooms. We can decorate them however we want. Our private space is sacred and should not be invaded by anyone. Especially by naughty princes who like to sneak into girls bedrooms at night. Remember you're a prince. You must act like one. Don't disgrace yourself or embarrass your mother."
"Yes yes I know. I'm a grown man Lynette. I can take care of myself. "
"Really? Because last time I checked you needed my help taking a bath. "
"Hey. That was one time. I didn't know how to use mana okay? Give me a break. How am I supposed to know how to wash my hair using magic? I have never done this before."
Lynette laughed softly and patted Zenyph's head gently.
"It's fine Zenyph. I'm just teasing you. We should probably wait for our roommates before choosing a room. I don't want to cause any trouble. Also remember you're a prince. Try to act dignified and regal. Okay? "
Zenyph nodded in agreement. They waited patiently for their classmates.
A short girl wearing glasses and pigtails walks into the room. She wears a white sleeveless shirt with black shorts and blue sneakers. Her hair is dyed black and her eyes are blue.
"Hello."
She bows respectfully to Zenyph and Lynette.
"Greetings young miss. May I ask who you are?"
"My name is Alice. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. My name is Zenyph Drakonhart. What family do you belong to?"
"I'm from the Gryphon family. I'm the youngest daughter of the current patriarch."
"Gryphon? Hmm... I've heard of the Gryphons. Aren't they a famous family known for producing alchemists? "
Alice blushed slightly and lowered her gaze shyly.
"Y-yes. I come from a long line of talented alchemists. My father was a master alchemist who invented many useful potions and medicines. Unfortunately he died recently due to illness. My mother became the leader of our household. She sent me to attend this academy in hopes of following in his footsteps. She believes I can become just like him and continue his legacy. Although I doubt I can achieve such greatness. "
Zenyph rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He remembered hearing about the Gryphon family once before. Their specialty was creating potions and magical concoctions. From what he recalled they were extremely wealthy and influential.
"Well Alice I think you can definitely do it. Don't sell yourself short. If your father could accomplish great things then surely you can do the same. It runs in the blood right? Family genes and all that stuff. "
Alice smiled brightly.
"Thank you Zenyph. I appreciate your encouragement. By the way who's your companion? "
"Oh right this is Lynette Shadowthorne. She is my maid. But she's also a friend."
"Hi there. Pleased to meet you miss Alice." bowed Lynette
"Please don't bow to me. I'm not royalty. "
"Don't worry about it. Lynette likes to show respect to others. She thinks it's polite behavior. "
"If you insist. So what class did you guys get assigned to? "
"We're in class alpha. I assume you are too since you're our roommate."
"Yep. I was lucky to get accepted into this academy. I was very late in applying. I thought I wouldn't get a spot. Luckily for me they had an opening. I guess you two are lucky too right? "
"Yeah I guess we are. " Zenyph replied cheerfully.
Suddenly another girl enters the room. She is tall and slender with long brown hair and green eyes. She has tan skin and stands about 5'9. She is dressed in a white dress with black boots. She has a silver chain hanging from her neck.
"Hey there! My name is Audrey. Nice to meet you all. Sorry for barging in. The front gate attendant said this was my room. Did I misunderstand? "
"No you didn't. We are waiting for our remaining roommate. I'm Zenyph Drakonhart. A pleasure to meet you. "
"Drakonhart? Isn't that the name of the dragons? Are you a dragon? Wow that's awesome! "
Audrey rushed over to Zenyph and grabbed his hands excitedly.
"Are you really a dragon? Please tell me the truth! Are you actually a dragon? "
"Uh yes? Why do you ask? Is something wrong? "
"Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to see if you were lying. Sorry for being rude. It's just that I've never met a dragon before. They usually don't associate with elves. At least not that I know of. Anyway where's your dragon form? Can you show me? "
Zenyph frowned. He didn't like the fact that she was asking such personal questions. He wished Lynette would step in and save him.
Lynette noticed his discomfort and took action.
"Excuse me Audrey. Could you please release my master's hand? You're hurting him. "
Audrey let go immediately and apologized profusely.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend anyone. It's just that I'm fascinated by dragons. Forgive me. "
"It's fine. Just don't touch me without permission. Please refrain from touching my servant as well. She belongs to me. "
"Oh is she one of your famous courtesans Zenyph? "
A grin formed on his face.
"Indeed. Lynette is indeed a courtesan. One of the finest in all of Eldrithia. No expense was spared when hiring her. And let me tell you that cost a fortune." teased Zenyph.
"Indeed Master Zenyph spared no expenses when hiring me. He spent thousands of gold coins just to have a chance to admire my foot. The rest is history." Lynette added jokingly.
Both women burst out laughing hysterically. Zenyph remained stoic while observing their reactions. He was amused by their antics.
"Okay ladies settle down. No need to get excited. Now let's get serious. I'm assuming you are both from noble families right? "
Audrey nodded and raised her hand.
"Yes. My name is Audrey Elvira. I belong to House Elvira. One of the most powerful elven houses. I'm a half-elf. My mother is the daughter of Duke Olivar. Her father is the ruler of the city of Verdant Greenwood. "
"I'm a half-breed. My mother was human and my father was an elf. "
"Interesting. This is Lynette Shadowthorne my maid and this is Alice." said Zenyph as he pointed to both woman
Alice cleared her throat nervously.
"M-my full name is Alice Gryphon. I-I'm a member of the Gryphon family. And like I told Zenyph no umm, prince Zenyph before they specialize in potion making and medicinal herbs. "
Zenyph chuckled lightly.
"You don't have to be so formal Alice. Call me Zenyph."
Alice nodded timidly.
"We're still missing one more person right?" asked Audrey.
Zenyph nodded and sat down in one of the chairs scattered throughout the common area. He crossed his legs and folded his arms across his chest. Just as Alice was about to say something, they heard someone outside the door.
"Why won't this stupid door open?"
The group exchanged glances. Zenyph stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it and was shocked to see a familiar face.
"You?"